Feed mechanism for typographic machines.



P. H. RICHARDS. FEED MEGHANISM FOR TYPOGBAPHIC MAGHINES. APPLICATION FILED Nov.19, 1902. RENBWED MAB. 24, 190s.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

Patented Apr.`20, 1909.

I'. H. RICHARDS.

' FEED MEOHANISM FOR TYPOGBAPHIG MAOEINES. APPLICATION FILED Nov.19.19o2. nmmwnn m3, 24. 190s.

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F. H. RICHARDS. FEED MEGHANISM EOE TYPOGEAPHIG MACHINES.

LICATION FILED NOV. 19, 1902. BENEWED MAB.. 24, 1908.

` Patented Apr. 20, 1909.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

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P. H. RICHARDS. FEED MEGHANISM FOB TYPOGRAPHIG MACHINES. APPLICATION FILED NOV. 19, 1902. RENEWED MAB.. 24, 1908.

Patented Apr. 20, 1909.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

@aja/mx l P. H. R1cHARDs. FEED MEGHANISM POR TYPOGRAPHIG MGHINES. APPLICATION FILED NOV.19, 1902. RENEWED MAR. 24, 1908.

919,225. l Patented Apr. 1909.`

5 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

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UNITED STATES FAIENI OFFICE.

FRANCIS H. RICHARDS, OF HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS,

TO AMERICAN TYPOGRAPHIO CORPORATION, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

FEED MECHANISM FOR TYPOGRAPHIC MACHINES.

Patented April 20, 1909.

Application led November 19, 1902, Serial No. 131,987. Renewed March 24, 1908. Serial No. 422,960.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANCIS H. Rion- Anns, a citizen of theUnited States, residing at Hartford, in the county of Hartford and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Feed Mechanism for Typographic Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to typographie machines and more especially to the organization with typographic machine elements of means or mechanism for imparting to the article subjected to the action of typographie impressors an intermittent movement, such mechanism being so constructed, organized and related as to have a ca acity for varying the distance fed at eaci step in consonance with the line space values of the impressors whereby there may be produced a proper sequence and alinement of impressions even though the impressors be of varying widths. D

In the embodiment of the invention set forth in the present instance, the invention is applied to the imparting of a step by step movement to a blank along whose edge types are formed in succession by means of successively located dies, each of which opcrates when located at the working point to forni a type upon that portion of the blank thereat. The feed mechanism in the form thereof herein disclosed is adapted to feed the blank at each step a distance having a close relation to the width of the respective dies successively used (these dies varying in width to correspond to the variable widths of the letters or characters which they are adapted to form) Vwhereby each type when formed is shifted away from the working point and the next succeeding section of the blank brought to such point ready to be operated upon by the die next operative.

The application of the present invention is not restricted to any proportion or species4 of blanks used for making a type, logotype or linotype; the invention is equally adapted for feeding in the foregoing manner a blank of any proper length and whose depth corresponds to the type height of the type, as Well as one or both members of a component or built up blank from which a type,

logotype or linotype not of an integral structure, but of a composite construction, is to be formed. Y.

In the drawings which accompany the present specification and wherein there is set forth one embodiment of my present invention applied to a particular species of typographie machine, Figure 1 is a side elevation, parts however being shown in section, with the various features comprised in the machine in the position taken by them prior to the operation of impressing the blank to form a type thereon Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. l, but represents a die as having been forced down against the edge of the blank Fig. 3 is an elevation looking from the right of Fig. l; Fig. 4 is an elevation looking from the right of Fig. 2; Fig. 5 is a plan view, the upper portion of the machine, however being removed on the plane of the line 515 in Fig. 3; Fig. 6 is a sectional view on the plane of the line 6 6 in Fig. l; Fig. 7 is a perspective view on an enlarged scale, parts being broken away, of the feed slide, the feed pawls carried thereby, and a portion of a blank with which one of the latter is shown in engagement; Fig. 8 is a perspective view on a smaller scale of the feed slide with the pawls which it is adapted to carry removed, F ig. 9 is a similar view of a detachable locking piece for holding the feed slide in position and confining the same to its to and fro movement; Figs. l() to I7, inclusive, are sectional detail views drawn upon a somewhat larger scale than the maj ority of the other figures and indicating the manner in which the feed pawls comprised in the feed mechanism cooperate with the blank to feed the latter a distance determined by the width of the successively operated dies, Fig. 18 is a perspective view, drawn to the same scale as Fig. 8, of a blank whose side face is properly formed to coperate with the feed pawls.

Similar characters of reference designate corresponding parts in all the figures.

For the purpose of disclosing the features of the-present invention I have chosen for illustration a simple construction of typo- .graphic machine, although it is to be understood that the invention embodies features of the mechanism hereinafter described com bined with elements of a typographie machine such` as to effect a proper feed operation.

The illustrated typographie machine is adapted to produce a succession of word related types along the edge of blank through the instrumentality of successively located and operated dies, and in the j'iarticular form of machine set forth, a number of dies borne by a carrier maybe, any one at a time by the adjustment of the latter, brought to the Working point whereupon by the iinpingement of a suitable striker or plui'iger the lccated die may be forced into the edge of the blank and the material thereof impressed to form therefrom a type.

Referring now in detail to the particular machine set forth in the drawings, the mounting for the various parts thereof comprises a base plate B, upon which is erected an upright B1; the carrier for the dies is designated by C and is in this instance in the nature of a disk journaled to stud 2 having a threaded shank 2 by which the stud is hXedly secured in a boss 2 on the base plate connected by a Web 2" with the aforesaid upright B1. A nut 3 rearing against a v-:asher 3 holds the die carrier against the shoulder formed by the upper surface of the boss 2; this nut may be immovably secured to the stud 2 by a pin such as 3. lt is by the angular shifting of this carrier that the proper die thereon is brought to the Working point and to assist in locating the desired die, there may be provided a pointer or index fixedly secured by a nut such as 4i to the upwardly projecting threaded portion of the stud 2. The dies are loca ed adjacent to the peripheral portion of the carrier and are adapted to have a to and fro sliding movement in a direction transverse to the plane of anguL lar adjustment of the carrier. The dies are designated, Without preference, by D, and may obviously correspond in number to the number thereof shown, or a less or greater numberl may be employed depending upon the use to which the machine is applied. Each die is here provided With a stem or shank d slidably mounted in an opening in the carrier and each such stem or shank may be angular in cross-section to prevent the rotation of the die in. the opening in which such stem or shank is located. ln the construction shown each die is urged in a direction the reverse of that in which it moves in the act of compressing the blank by a corresponding spring 5, the motion of the die under the tension of the spring being' limited by a shoulder-forming collar 5/ on the die stem, which is adapted to seat itself in a socket or recess 5 in the under side of the carrier. lt may be here premised, that each die stem is provided with a suitable head such as 5a against which the plunger or striker already adverted to impinges the retracting spring 5 being insertedl een such head and the adjacent face of the carrier C. The striker or plunger is carried by a slide mounted upon the aforesaid upright B1 to move in line with the axis of the particular die stem which may, by the adjustment of the carrier C, be brought into alinement With iti rlhis slide is designated by S and is suitably constructed to move longitudinall,T of guides s on the upright, a gib plate s being, in this instance, employed as one feature for this purpose and being secured as shown to the slide by screws s.

The striker or plunger proper is designated by 6 and in the form thereof shown is in the nature of a button or contact piece screwed into the bottom face of the slide in a position such that it will iinpinge against the head of any one of the die stems after the saine has been brought in alinement With it. A toggle construction is employed for forcing the slide down and causing the plunger or striker to press the die into the blank. rThis toggle construction as here illustrated cornprises an operating handle or lever 7 pivoted by a pin 7 between projecting ears 7 on the upright and connected by a pair of links S (each pivoted at one end by a pin S to a laterally projecting portion 7d of the operating lever) to a boss 8 on the slide, pivot pin 8 passing through the links and the boss. A stop 9 determines the extreme upper position of the slide and the latter when free is caused to be drawn upward by the action of retracting springs 10, each of which may be secured to a pin l0 on the slide, and a corresponding fixed pin 10 projecting from the upright B1.

Although not essential, l deem it desirable to employ a centering or precisionizing de vice for accurately positioning the die carrier With reference to the slide immediately before and during the operation of impressing the blank. This device may comprise a pin 1l projecting from the slide which when a die has been adjusted approximately to the Working point enters a recess 1l adjacent to the die (there being one such recess corresponding to each die) and holds the carrier firmly in the correct position to enable the die to properly form the type upon the proper portion of the blank. Preferably the upper edge of this recess il Will be chainfered or beveled, see the eountersink l1, while the extreme edge of the pin 11 maybe beveled as shown to more readily cooperate therewith. A bearing face 12 on the web 2 and adjacent both to the periphery or the carrier and to the Working point is preferably provided for taking the thrust of the die carrier caused by the descending slide.

The blank is designated in a general Way by WV and although represented as having its body portion integral with the edge portion, which is to be provided with types, it may obviouslyT be of a diilferent construction so far as such integrality is concerned. Moreover, while the blank illustrated has a length corresponding substantially to the length of a line of type, it may obviously be of a greater' or less length. Vvhatever be the form of the blank a suitable guide will ordinarily be formed for its reception, permitting the blank to be shifted lengthwise step by step into the working point' of the dies brought in succession to the said working point. p

Referring now to the means constituting the particular feature of the present invention, and which when operated serves to effect the step by step movement of the blank, this means in the present illustration comprises a plurality of pawl-like actuators adapted to engage with shoulders formed in or on one of the faces of the blank. `With the particular` form of actuators shown, and when the same are mounted relatively to the blank as indicated in the drawings, the side face of the blank presented to the actuators will have a series of teeth, an example of which is illustrated at w. For conveniently operating the pawl-like actuators I employ in this instance a slide 13 shiftable to and fro in line witlrthe path of the feeding movement which the blank has and having such a position as to enable the actuators mounted thereon to cooperate with the teeth w on the blank in a manner that will be presently described. adapted to slide in guideways, one of which is in this instance formed in lateral projections 13 of the web 2 and the other of which is formed in a detachable piece 14 which, after the slide has been placed in position may be clamped over the same by screws such as 14k. lt will be noted that there is mounted on this slide a plurality of pawls. Three separate pawls are here shown, adapting, as will later appear, the present feed mechanism to the impartation of three separate movements, of different amounts, to the blank. In the particular construction and organization illustrated, these pawls 15, 15, 15b are fulcrumed to a pin 15 common to them all, and which extends between projecting ears 15 on the slide in such a position as to permit the pawls to project through an opening 16 in the slide and beyond the opposite face thereof where they may engage with the teeth formed in the blank. Proper springs 17 may be used to insure such engagement. The pawls aforesaid are of diiderent lengths as measured between their common pivotal axis and their working faces; that is to say, assuming for illustration that the three pawls Guide ribs 13 on this feed slide are are in the position illustrated in Fig. 7, one of the pawls will be in contact with the shoulder of the tooth against which it impinges, another of the pawls will overlap the face of suoli tooth to a certain amount, and finally the third pawl will overlap such face to a greater amount. lf, in the event that three pawls are used, and it is desired that the shortest distance which the feed mechanism is capable of feeding the blank shall be onethird of the greatest feed movement, and the intermediate feed movement two-thirds of this latter movement, the intermediate pawl of Fig. 7 will overlap the tooth for one-third of its width and the lower pawl of theiigure will overlap such tooth two-thirigls of the tooth width.

Referring now to the means for actuating the feed, slide 13 and thereby shifting the blank through the instrumentality of the pawl which may at any time be. engaged with one of its teeth, this is preferably effected through means operative from one or more of the shiftable parts of the machine. ln this instance the to and fro movement of the slide is controlled from the reciprocation of the slide S through a lever device which, in the particular organization set forth, com-- prises an angle lever 1S pivoted intermediate its ends by a pin 18, upon an upright 19 erected on the base. The forked end 18 of the arm 1,8 ofthe angle lever embraces a pir.Y 18 extending from the feed slide 13. The other arm .18h of the angle lever is slotted at its end, see the slot 18, to receive a pin 2O reciprocative to and fro in line with the similar movement of the slide S. The construction is such that the extent of the reciprocative movement of this pin 2O in unison with the reciprocating slide S may be varied, (the slide being moved through substa tially the same distance at each type-ma ng operation) means being provided for arresting the pin at a predetermined point in the line of movement of the slide, after which such slide may continue its independent movement. As a result, l am enabled to vary the throw of the lever 18 and hence. vary the extent of the movement imparted thereby to the feed slide 18. To the end of accomplishing the aforesaid results, the pin 20 is mounted upon a part relatively to which the slide S may move, combined with which part are suitable devices for arresting the same in its movement. lt may here be premised that the organization is such as to cause the backward movement of the slide 13 and hence the backward movement of the pawls over the teeth on the blank during the downward movement of the slide S, that is a movement thereof during which the die approaches the blank. During the return movement of the slide S, however, the feed slide 13 moves forward and b v reason of the eng' of the pawls car 'ied thereby with a tooth on the bla.V la, the latter is fed forward. to carryv the type last .rade out from under the die and bring' the proper portion next in advance along the blank to the worl-ine; point. rlhe pin 2t) is mounted upon a bar l slidablv mounted on the slide S, ano urged dmrnward liv a sprino' El encircling' the bar and itu-- serted between one wall of a recess 22 in the slide, and a collar 523 aliizied to the bar. The contacting' of this collar.' with the lower wall cf the recess 22 determines the limiting' dew pressed position of the bar, the tension of the spring' 2l beine' suliicient to cause the rocking of the an,j c lever itl during' the descent of the slide S and until the bar comes in contact with a stop on the die carrier C. 'There one of these stops Ell for each of the dies l), the general disposition of a die, a stop, and a centering' recess 1l., beine' radial in this case, see Fiel'. 5, andl the 'figures on the several stops representing' the line space values of the chai'- acters or letters, the respective dies for making' which are contiguous to them.

lt is evidentl from the forenI 'ne' description that the earlier the bar contacts with the stop as the slide S descends, that is the earlier the stoppage in the full downward movement of the slide, the less is the anc lever 1S rocked upon its pivot, and hence t ie less will the feed slide be drawn. lniciiward. Therefore, v-:hilo the upper surfaces of the heads on the diestenrs may all lie substantiall)v in the s.. f :i of the several stops 2e planes, due to the fact that diiferent widths are assigned to the characters or letters to which the several stops are correlated.

For convenience in "fembline; the several stops with their uppe 'faces et relativelyv dirferent distances from the uppersurface of the die carrier C", such tops may be provided ith threaded 24 acapted to screw into threaded openings in the carrier, and when a stop has been correctly adjusted to shift the feed slide t ie proper distance as aforesaid, the stop ma)Y be secured in piace by a lock nut such as As has already been stated, the present feed mechanism is adapted to produce three separate amounts of travel of the feed slide, and hence taking' the entire assemblage of dies a whole the stop bar 2l will be arrested from further downward movement as it descends with the slide S, three different distances 'from the die carrier. During' the 'First staffe of the ascent of the slide S the bar i 2l will remain stationarpv and so continue until the coller .23 thereon, which has been raised from the lower wall of the slot dur ing the descent of the slide, again contacts with such wall, whereupon during the 'further tooth with which the pawl 15b Fig. l0.

agement of one l ascent of the slide the bar will rise in unison with it, reversing' the motion of the angle lever 18 and cruising' the blank to feed forward. lt has already been stated that the feed pawls are of three different lengths, and hence during the descent of the slide, one at least of the pawls, the particular one depending upon the distance that the feed slide is drawn backward, will be caused to engage with one of the teeth. This engaging' pawl upon the rise of the slide becomes operative to feed the blank forward.

A mechanism such as has been hereinbefore described operates substantially in the following,` manner: Assuming that the parts are in the position represented in Fig'. l, and tl a blank has been placed in the machine and the carrier C adjusted to bring a desired die under the contact piece G upon then depressing the operatinc' lever 7, the members of the toggle construction straighten out causing the slide S to descend. Sometime prior to the imping'ement of the contact piece against the heed of the die stem directly under it, the pin l] will enter the proper countersink 1l. precisionizing the position of the carrier. rt some time also, prior to such engagement of the contact nece, the bar 21 which, during' the descent o the slide S up to that time has swung' the angle level' 1S drawing the feed slide i3 backward, will come in contact with the proper stop 24. As the pressure on the lever 7 is continued the slide S continues to descend, but 'he bar 2l and the parts operative therefrom are restrained Afrom further movement. As the members ofthe toggle come more and more into alinement with each other, the die forced downward end into the edge of the blank with an increasing' pressure effect, and the type is made. Upon reversing' the motion of the lever 7 the slide S begins to ascend and as the collar 23 on the bar 2] contacts with the bottom wall of the rece 22 the bar will begin to ascend. During' this movement of the angle lever in. unison with the slide, it ushes the feed slide forward and feeds the blank along a step.

Referring' to l() to i7, inclusive, in which the operation of the several pawls comprised in the feed device illustrated, Fig. l represents the relative position ofthe pawls, the feed slide, and the blank at the closev of a feed movement. in Fig'. ll the feed slide is assumed to have been drawn backward a sufficient distance to effect, upon the forward movement of the slide, 'feed of one-third of a tooth resulting' from the engagement of the pawl "1 with the particular shoulder or is engaged in ln Fig. l2, the blank has been fed Yforward this distance, the pawl 15iL still remainingn in engagement with the tooth. In

Fig. 13 the slide has been drawn backward a distance sufiicient to cause the engagement of the pawl 15b with the tooth immediately at the rear of the engaged tooth of Fig. 12.

In this position the advance of the feed slide will result in the feeding forward of the blank, a distance equal to two-thirds of a tooth, Fig. 14 representing the parts at the close of this particular movement. In Fig. 15 the slide is assumed to have been drawn backward sufficiently far to cause the engagement of the pawl 15b with the next tooth at the rear corresponding to a feed movement of a whole tooth width. Fig. 16 indicates the position of the parts at the close of this particular feed movement. Fig. 17 shows the position of the parts during the backward movement of the slide and as the pawls slide idly over the teeth of the blank.

Having thus described my invention, I claim- 1. The combination with a support for a typebar element, of a plurality of selective dies, feed mechanism comprisingr a plurality of pawl-like actuators for engaging, one at a time, the teeth of a rack upon said element, and means for actuating said actuators through variable distances in consonance rith the line-space values of the respective ies.

2. rPhe combination with a support for a typebar element, of a plurality of selective dies, a plurality of pawl like actuators mounted to move in unison and singly active, and means interposed between the respective selected dies and the actuators for imparting a variable feed movement to the actuatiors.

3. The combination with a plurality of selective dies of a rack, a plurality of pawl-like actuators for engaging the rack one at a time, a carrier upon which said actuators are mounted, and means interposed between the respective selected dies and said carrier for imparting a variable movement to the carrier in consonance with the line space values of the dies.

11. rIhe combination with a plurality of selective dies, of a rack a plurality of pawl-like actuators, a slide'upon which said actuators are mounted with their working faces in advance one of the other, and means interposed between the respective selected dies and said slide for imparting a variable movement to the slide in consonance with the line-space values of the dies for causing one of said actuators to engage the rack.

5. The combination with a plurality of selective dies, of a supportfor a typebar element, a plurality of feed pawls of varying length, a slide upon which said pawls are mounted and by which the same are movable in unison, and means interposed between a working die and said slide for imparting to the slide a movement corresponding in extent to the line-space value of the working die.

6. The combination with a plurality of selective dies, of a support for a typebar element, a plurality of feed pawls adapted to engage one at a time with an element in such support, a slide upon which said pawls are mounted, and a lever connection between the working die and said slide whereby a movement is imparted to said slide in consonance with the line-space value of the working die.

7. The combination with a plurality of selective dies, of a support for a typebar element, a plurality of feed pawls of different lengths adapted to engage with an element in such support, a stop face coordinated with each die for determining the backward movement of said pawls over the element in the support, and means for feeding said pawls forward 1n the period when a die is out of contact with the element in the support.

S. The combination with a plurality of selective dies, of a carrier upon which said dies are mounted, a plurality of stop faces on said carrier each of which is coordinated with a die a plurality of feed pawls of varying length adapted to engage with an element in the support, a carrier upon which the pawls are mounted, and means under the control of a moving die for imparting a movement to said pawl carrier the extent of which is determined by the position of the stop-face coordinated with said moving die.

9. The combination with rectilinearly movable dies, of a plurality of feed pawls of varying lengths for imparting a variable feed movement to the blank upon which the dies operate.

10. The combination with an adjustable die carrier provided with a plurality of typemaking dies, of means for precisionizing the said carrier upon its adjustment, mechanism for causing the operation of the die brought by the adjustment of the carrier to the working point, a plurality of feed pawls of varying lengths, a carrierupon which such pawls are mounted, and a connection between the dieoperating mechanism and said pawl carrier for imparting a variable movement to the pawl carrier in consonance with the linespace value of the respective dies.

11A The combination with a number of dies, of a support for a typebar element, and a plurality of actuators under the control of the respective dies as to the particular sequence of actuation of the actuators for imparting an intermittent motion to an element in such support.

12. r1"he combination with a die, of a support for a typebar element, and a plurality of actuators under the control of the die in arbitrary sequence for imparting a variable intermittent motion to an element in such support.

13. The combination With a number of dies, of a support for a typebar element, and a plurality of actuators under tl'ie control of the dies, Which actuators are adapted to engage With an element in such support in a sequence controlled by the dies for imparting an intermittent motion to such element.

14;. The combination with a number of dies, of a support for a typebar element, and

a plurality of actuators under the control of the dies, which actuators are adapted to engage with an element in sucli support in a sequence varied by the dies for imparting a variable intermittent motion to such element.

l5. ln a typographie machine, the combination with a series of selective dies, of mean to actuate the dies and embodying a. carrier, a plurality of feed paivls of varying lengths pivotally mounted on said carrier, a lever for reciprocating the carrier, and means controlled by the said die actuating means for operating said lever.

16. In a typographie machine, the combination With a number of selective dies, of means to actuate a selected die, means to hold a blank, a slide sliiftable adjacent to the blank, a plurality of' feed parvis of varying lengt-lis mounted upon the slide, and a lever connection controlled by the die actuating means for reciprocating the slide.

17. ln a typographie machine, the combination With a series ol selective dies, of a blank carrier, means for selectively actuating i the dies and means for actuating a blank in the carrier and comprising a plurality of feed pawls of varying lengths movable upon the carrier, lever connection for reciprocating the pawls, and means controlled by said die actuatino' means for operating said lever.

1S. ln a typographie machine, the combination with a series of selective dies, of a blank carrier and means to actuate the same, means to actuate the dies, a plurality of paWls ol varying lengths for engaging a blank in said carrier, and means actuated by the die actuating means for actuating sai l paivls.

l. rllie combination with a series of dies and means for selectively operating the saine, of a typebar blank support, a reciprocatory slide adjacent to said su pport, a series of paWls mounted on the slide for engaging feed on a blank in the support, the active faces of the paWls being disposed in a series longitudinally oi the support, and means associated with the selection and operation of eacli die for reciprocating the slide a selective distance.

Signed at Nos. 945 Murray st., New York, N. Y., this 18th day of November, 1902.

FRANCIS H. RICHARDS.

1vitnesses:

Pinasca* L. WELLS, JOHN O. Snirnn'r. 

